frequently asked questions
Pregnancy
Can anyone birth with Natural Born?
All expecting families can be part of our community and join our various support groups. Out-of-hospital birth is safe because we serve only low risk people. Do you wonder if you are low risk? If you desire midwifery care it is worth askig if you are a safe candidate for care. Just give us a call 972.839.9443.
Does Natural Born attend VBAC and/or HBAC?
According to the latest center for disease control the cesarean birth rate inthe US is 31.9% (2017), with such a high surgical birth rate, the question of how to give birth after a previous cesarean is a frequent question. The short answer is, yes! We can attend a TOLAC for a woman who has had an uncomplicated birth by surgery, with at least 18 months spacing from the surgical birth to this baby’s due date, surgical records available and willingness to see a chiropractor and other complementary providers as needed.
Are you in network with insurance?
No we are out of network with all insurance providers. While this may seem like it will cost more to birth at home this is not normally the case. In most cases it is still cheaper to birth at home with out discounted cash pricing.
How many births per month do y'all accept?
We are able to greet about 5 new humans each month. Call as soon as you get that positive pregnancy test to make sure you hold a spot. Some months are open long enough to accept people late in their pregnancy, as long as they have records of care from their previous midwife or MD.
Do y'all have an ultrasound machine?
Yes, we do “bedside” in-office ultrasounds and also refer out for ultrasounds to be read by a radiologist. We offer no-charge ultrasounds to gather basic info, like: How many babies, viability in early pregnancy, head or butt down? For diagnostic ultrasounds we refer you to one of our amazing MFMs in the area.
Do you offer genetic screening?
Yes, we are able to discuss genetic screening and do some in-house labs and refer out for others. The field of genetic testing is a rapidly growing technology, and a visit to a geneticist may be the best option for you.
Is there a specific diet I must follow?
Nutrition in pregnancy is one element you may be able to control. Each of us comes with a blue print--think genetics. Newer research is showing that blue print can change when higher quality "building materials" are available--think epigenetics. Your baby could still be on the planet in 90+ years if he/she is built to last. No pressure! Just do your best. Eating while nauseated or with gestational diabetes can be challenging. People also wonder if their diet is adequate; vegan, vegetarian, meat and potatoes, paleo... so many questions! Let the Natural Born midwives guide you through optimal nutritin in pregnancy while honoring your own diet preference.
What resources do you recommend?
See our link Client Resources above and choose the option that suits your search.
Do you have recommended supplements?
Yes we do have one that we prefer over others. You can find a complete list of our favorites here.
Do you use herbs or homeopathy in your care?
Yes! Every person and pregnancy is different and there is no one size fits all approach. We will always discuss options and give you the pros and cons of each of them.
What happens if my baby comes early or late?
As licensed midwives in the state of Texas, we can attend births anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks gestation. Most births occur between 38 and 41 weeks. Before 37 weeks of after 42 weeks, there can be more complications for the baby and we refer you to our MFM who discusses your options with you to make a plan.
Labor & Birth
Can I labor and birth in the water?
Yes, if you are pregnant at this moment, please consider that your baby is completely underwater, and nobody is too concerned! Your baby is getting oxygen from the umbilical cord and in late pregnancy will practice breathing with water. A water birth is just a short extension of the womb. Once the face hits the air, the baby will take deep breaths, the small amount of amniotic fluid naturally found in the lungs is pushed out by oxygen. The lung tissue itself becomes perfused with oxygen. This is a radiant process. Most babies are born with a dusky tone and soon will pink up (this is true of all babies regardless of skin color).
The water birth is for the woman's comfort and may reduce vaginal tearing. It has been called the natural epidural.
Who can be at my birth? Children?
You may have whoever you choose at your birth. Our advice on choosing guests is to limit it to people who will be there for a specific reason. Do they have anything in particular to offer? Will they give you good labor support, acupuncture, massage? Try not to ask people to be at the birth for them, ensure you are asking them to be there for you. Having people there who you don’t really want, feel comfortable with, or who are negative/scared about an out-of-hospital birth often creates a challenging experience. Remember the law of the sphincter and only invite people to your birth whom you are just fine pooping in front of.
As for children, we are glad to have children of all ages at your birth! We ask that your child have an adult there who is responsible for them and who is unattached to witnessing the birth so that they may leave with the child if necessary.
What will I do for pain relief?
“The more cultured the races of the earth have become, so much the more positive have they been in pronouncing childbirth to be a painful and dangerous ordeal”. - Grantly Dick-Read, Childbirth without Fear
We do not have pharmaceutical pain relief: epidurals or narcotics.
Prepare: For American women, birth needs preparation! Take childbirth education, read positive books like Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth, watch films like The Business of Being Born, stretch your body in yoga, dance, make love, get out in nature, have quiet time, teach yourself to be patient (take breaks from your cell phone), meditate, and do nothing at times. WHAT? If birth is such a normal, natural process why do I need so much preparation for my first unmedicated birth? Because most of us live soft lives compared to people of other times and places. Birth has fierce energy. Preparation teaches you to ride the wave of labor and meet it with your own fierce, wild self. You can do it! But you must prepare. Without preparation birth may be perceived as a terrible painful ordeal instead of the powerful and wondrous force that will bring your child into your arms.
Support: Active labor support from the midwives or a doula lessens the impression of pain and shortens labor. By hiring Natural Born midwives you will have support for your labor no matter which way nature decides to lead you. If a cesarean becomes the safest way for the baby to be born, our role becomes even more vital in providing loving postpartum support. Having a birth is an intense and challenging life event. While it can definitely be interpreted as painful, most women’s interpretation of pain is greatly affected by their environment, relationship with care provider, level of feelings of safety or fear, and so many other factors. We have many tools for pain management, including the built relationship of trust, water, herbs, homeopathics, and massage. We also have relationships with local chiropractors and acupuncturists who may be available to help with various challenges (including pain management) if we think they may be helpful.
What happens if there is an emergency?
Approximately 90% of women who choose to give birth at-home with Natural Born midwives do so without a complication. If something comes up in your pregnancy, labor, birth, or postpartum that indicates it would be safer to be in a hospital setting, we do not hesitate to go there. Our relationship with local hospitals is such that your midwife is able to join you in the hospital and continue to provide labor support in that setting as long as COVID regulations do not prevent otherwise. If there is an actual emergency where time is of the essence (less than 1% of births that we attend), we may choose to transport by ambulance. Your midwives will discuss this possibility with you as your due date approaches.
In the case of a transport during labor, upon discharge from the hospital you will continue your postpartum care with the Natural Born midwives as planned.
It is one of the privileges of living in the US in the 21 century that cesarean birth is available to us when it may save the life of a mother or baby. Natural Born midwives believe that a cesarean birth rate of 30+% is improper use of this incredible surgery. Our cesarean rate is 10% or less most years. The World Health Organization recognizes the overuse of cesarean birth as a costly health crisis. Midwifery reduces unnecessary surgical births!
What if there is a cord around my baby's neck?
This is the most frequently asked question of all! It is a fearful thought to think of a nooselike experience for a baby, in most cases the cord around the neck is more like a necklace and does no harm. The cord is around the neck (nuchal cord) in about 30% of births. We simply loop it over the head during the birth process. It is a tragic, but rare event when a cord accident occurs. There are 7.5 billion people on the planet and we all negotiated our umbilical cords.
Postpartum
When should our child see a pediatrician?
Your midwives will care for you and your baby for the first 6 weeks of life. Most people choose to make their first appointment with a pediatrician when their baby is 8 weeks old. It’s helpful to decide on a pediatrician in late pregnancy. We have great pediatricians we can refer your family to.
Do you preform circumcisions?
We do not. New research has deemed it medically unnecessary. We'd be glad to provide you with more information if you have questions. We have zero judgement if you do decide to circumcise your child, once you have all the info and can provide you with recommendations.
Does Natural Born carry malpractice insurance?
No we do not. Unfortunately malpractice insurance is so expensive that we would have to take on far too many clients to afford to cover the cost and we woud not longer be able to provide the type of care we prefer to give our clients.
